Means for installing packing in stuffing-boxes



y 1, 1934- H. T. WHEELER 1,956,843

MEANS FOR INSTALLING PACKING IN STUFFING, BOXES Filed July 50, 1 930 mmm INVENM;

Fatented May 1,. 1934 MEANS FOR INSTALLING PACKING 1N STUFFING-BOXES Harley '1. Wheeler, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Elizabeth Wheeler, Dallas, Tex.

Application July 30, 1930, Serial No. 471,830 5 Claims. (Cl. 286-31) This invention relates to certain new and useful box 1 also being that part of stem 2 shown in improvements in tools and the method of inthe perspective, Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the serting packing in a stuffing-box. The chief adsleeve 6 which has been passed over the ring vantage is to install a new set of packing after 7 and collar 5 and is forming a housing, or

5 the old packing has been removed. an external stufling-box for the rin 4- Th 5 Another advantage is that sections of packing packing gland 3 is placed over the stem and may be assembled in their proper relation outheld in place by long threaded bolts 8, 8, and side of the stuffing-box, and then forced into tightened by nuts 9, 9. It may now be seen the stufiing-box against any pressure that may that pressure may be exerted on the packing 16 be accumulating in the stuffing-box chamber. by tightening nuts 9, 9, which force gland 3 65 A further advantage is the use of an expandagainst spacing collar '7, pushing split collar 5 ing collar which holds the packing in place while against the packing rings 4, the latter then movthe loading tools are being replaced. ing into the stuffing-box chamber 1Q Should any A still further and important advantage is pressure be escaping thru the stufling-box 1, it

that a full set of packing may be removed from will now accumulate against the packing rings. the stuffing-box which has been equipped with To overcome this pressure, it is only necessary the expanding collar, under full pressure on the to advance nuts 9, 9, thus moving the assembly valve and without damage to the packing. oi gland 3, spacing collar 7, split collar 5 and With these advantages in view, and other obpacking set rings 4 until the stufling-box is filled.

20 jects which will become apparent as the de- Referring now to Figures 4 and 5. Before scription proceeds the invention will be readily the split collar 5 ismachined it is slotted along understood by reference to the accompanying line 5b then the material is hammered or pressed drawing, wherein: so'that the slot is closed. After being machined Figure 1 is a perspective view of the packing to its dimensions a tapeig threaded hole 5a is rings and the loading tools, assembled on a valve made with its center line in the joint as is more stem. clearly shown at 5a, of Figure l. The upper Figure 2 is a crosssectional view of a stufiingpart of split collar 5 is made a close fit to the box being filled with packing according to this stem to providea bearing which will maintain invention. the valvestem oh the centerline of the stumng- 39 Figure 3 is a cross-section of the packing in box bore. The inner part of the split collar 5 place in a stufling-box. is recessed at Bdfor clearance to assist the im- Figure 4. is a cross-sectional view of theexpressed pressureto increase the contact of the pending collar. packing against the stem. Plug 10 is a taper- Figure 5 is a plan view of the expanding collar. threaded screw, a fit to the taper hole 5a in Referring now especially to Figure 1, which split collar 5, and is to be used as will be shown shows that portion of a valve stem 2 which ex-. later, to expand the split collar in the mouth of tends outside and beyond the stuffing-box 1. It the stufling-box. is to be understood that this stem or shaft 2 Referring now especially to Figure 2, after may be of any size or construction which re-' the packing rings 4 have been forced into the g quires a packing to form a seal between the stuffing-box chamber 1, sleeve 6 will house the stem and its supporting structure. Any number split collar 5, the spacing ,collar '7 and part of required packing rings 4 are assembled on of the shank of the packing gland 3. To rethe stem 2 in proper alignment with the joints move collar '7 and take out the long threaded lapped and staggered. A split collar 5 is next bolts 8, 8, the sleeve 6 is pulled upward to ex- 45 placed over the stem, immediately to be followed pose the threaded hole 5a.. Now plug 10 is I by a spacing ring '7. The collar and ring, 5 and screwed into the hole 5a tightly enough to ex- 7, are either the same size or slightly less in pand the split collar 5 against the mouth of the diameter than the stuifing-box bore. Lastly, the stuffing-box 1. The expanding split collar 5 then hollow sleeve 6, which is slightly larger than takes the thrust of the pressure against the 50 the stuffing-box bore is placed on the stem prerings 4. Packing gland 3 may be removed, paratory to being slipped over collars 5 and '7, spacing collar 7 taken off, and long threaded to house the packing rings 4. bolts 8, 8, removed,

In Figure 2 is shown a cross-section of a Referring now especially to Figure 3, while stuffing-box l, the portion of the valve stem 2 the split collar 5 is expanded against the wall 5 which extends outside and beyond the stuflingof stuifing-box 1, holding the packing rings 4 in place, permanent bolts 12, 12 are installed and the gland 3 is replaced on the stem and "held against-the split collar 5 by nuts 9, 9. The

taper plug 10 is loosened or removed and the packing gland 3 used to-adjust the set of packing for tightness.

In operation this invention is mainly used to remove all old packing and to force a new set of packing into a stuffing-box against any pressure which may be escaping. Altho gate valves and other devices using packing have stop collars and similar means to stop any pressure escaping from the interior into the stufiing-box while it is being repacked, these devices rarely ever are pressure tight. To attempt to force a set of packing into a stuffing-box one ring at a time, or to wind a string of packing around the stem and force it into place, is to have it blown out as fast as suflicient pressure accumulates. And any method of pushing rings into a box against escaping pressure, other than by an orderly method such as is covered by this invention, will disarrange the packing and result in a. poor job and a leaking joint.

Packing rings 4 installed by this method are systematically arranged on the stem 2 outside of and beyond the mouth of the stufiing-box 1, then the entire set is forced into the stuffingbox 1,'- the external sleeve 6 keeping the rings in alignment and the split collar 5 compressing them evenly against the pressure until the set occupies the chamber. A great share of efiiciency and the length of service from packing is obtained by putting packing into a stuflingbox in an orderly manner without damaging it before it goes into service. As valves are commonly constructed and operated the stem has no rigid support at the outer end other than the packing which is compressed against it. By this invention, the split collar 5 with its close fitting bearing surface 50 forms a guide for the stem immediately above the stufiing-box mouth and protects the packing from side thrusts and rough handling. Less tension is required to keep the packing tight when the stem is centralized with the stufling-box bore and elasticity and tightness are maintained for a longer period of time.

Manifestly the construction illustrated is capable of considerable variation to meet different valve designs to control difi'erent temperatures and pressures, and such variations as are within the scope of the appended claims are considered within the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A packing assembly of the type to be set as a renewal packing in a supporting structure about a stem or shaft where the pressure which is to be sealed is present when the packing is being positioned, said assembly including a plurality of layers of packing material, an expandable retaining collar thereon, means in said collar to expand it against the supporting structure to temporarily hold the packing in position, and a gland to engage said collar to permanently hold the assembly in position, said means being accessible to release said retaining collar after said gland engages said collar.

2. An assembly for installing packing in a stuffing box under conditions where pressure cannot be relieved, comprising an annulus disposed about the bore of the stufiing box and to receive the packing material, a split ring seated on the packing material, means to force the packing and split ring into the stufling box, and means to expand said split ring into positive engagement with the wall of the stufiing box.

3. An assembly for installing packing in a stufiing box' under conditions where pressure cannot be relieved, comprising an annulus disposed about the bore of thestulfing box and to receive the packing material, a split ring seated on the packing material, means to force the packing and split ring into the stuffing box, means to expand said split ring into positive engagement with the wall of the stuffing box, and additional means to permanently retain said ring in engagement with the packing.

4. An assembly for installing packing against pressure in stuifing boxes including means adapted for attachment to the stufiing box. an expandable collar and packing material adapted to be forced into the stufiing box against the pressure in said box, and additional means connected to said first means to apply pressure to said collar. a sleeve to guide said collar and material into the stuifing box, said sleeve being movable so that said collar may be expanded.

5. A method of installing packing in stufling boxes where the pressure has not been relieved including positioning the packing and a retaining collar adjacent the mouth of the stufling box, forcing the packing material and collar into the stufiing box against the pressure, temporarily fastening the collar in the entrance of the stufiing box to hold the packing against the pressure. and replacing the packing gland so that it engages the collar. I

HARLEY T. WHEELER. 

